Liquid-sterilizer.



V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER & M. VON REGKLINGHAUSEN. LIQUID STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26,1910.

LfilfiQ fifia Patented Mar.16,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

wimzssss; I INVENTORS V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER 65 M. VON REOKLINGHAUSEN.

LIQUID STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.Z6, 1910.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[NVENTORS W wmw W\NESSES V. HENRI, A. HELBRONNER & M. VON REUKLINGHAUSEN. LIQUID STERILIZER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.26,1910.

.1 1 32 2 5 Patented Mar.16,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: INVENTORS i rarlns rnruisr union.

VICTOR HENRI, ANDRE HELBRONNER, AND MAX VON RE CKLINGHAUSEN, OF PARIS,

FRANCE, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE R. U. V. COMPANY, INC.,

CORPORATION OF NEW YOR LIQUID-STERILIZER.

Specification of Letters ratent. ZPatemtedl Mair, ll d,'ll9ll5;

Application filed February 26, N10. Serial No. 546,252.

a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the sterilizatlon of mill: and other liquid foods, liquids used for medicinal and surgical purposes, Serums and the like, and has for its object to provide an improved apparatus for attaining this end.

According to this invention we take advantage of the well-known bactericidal efiept of ultra-violet rays by subjecting the liqurd to be sterilized, preferably in a finely d1- vided state, such as a spray or thin film, to ultra-violet rays from any suitable source. In order to insure thatevery particle of the liquid shall be subjected to the action of the rays, we prefer to keep it in motion so that a fresh surface shall be continually presented to them. The ultra-violet rays for use in our improved method of sterilization may be obtained in any convenient manner, but the source which we prefer to use is a mercury vapor electric lamp, the container-of which is made of quartz or other material which permits the passage of the rays; such lamps can now be obtained commercially and are being used for various purposes.

The liquid to be. sterilized may be contained in a shallow vessel above which a source of rays is located, and the surface of the liquid may be agitated by means of a current of air preferably sterilized, or some other inert gas. This current of air not only assists in bringing every particle of the liquid under the influence of the rays, but also prevents it from being contaminated by the presence of ozone which is formed when ultra-violet rays are passed through air. In the case of some liquids, such as milk for example, ozone imparts a very unpleasant I taste, and it may have a deleterious effect on other liquids which it is desired to sterilize.

In order that our invention may be clearly understood, we will now proceed to describe by way of example some forms of apparatus by means of which it may be carried into practical efi'ect.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is asectional view of one form of apparatus, and Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views illustrating modifications.

Referring now to Fig. l, the apparatus comprises a funnel-shaped vessel 1, havingcorrugated Walls, and supported rotatably at its lower end 2 in a fixed bearing 3, so

that its axis is inclined to the perpendicular.

Secured on the lower end of the funnel is a gear wheel a, which meshes with a worm 5 supported in a bracket 6, so that the funnel may be rotated.

The liquid to be sterilized is delivered near the top of the funnel in such a manner that it flows in a thin stream-down the side of the funnel through the vent at the bottom into a container 7, from which it may be drawn 0d through a pipe 8.

The source of the ultra-violet rays is a mercury vapor lamp having a quartz container indicated at 9, which is supplied with current from any suitable source. The liquid to be sterilized is delivered to the side of the vessel 1 through a pipe 10, the supply being so adjusted with reference, to the size of the vessel that it flows in a thin stream down the side.

It will be noted that the rays pass through the large opening in the bottom of the funnel into the container 7 so that there is no possibility of the liquid being reinfected on passing from the sterilizer to the container. The rotation of the vessel on its axis by the medium of the gearing 54 causes the volume of liquid to be spread over the corrugated surface and a greater flow can thus be maintained, and the capacity of the apticle must come under the influence of the ultra-violet rays. In an apparatus without grooves the liquid would be of even thick-- ness all through, and in the case of liquids which are not very translucent to the ultraviolet rays some particles of the liquid might not come under influence of the same.

In order to provide for passing a current of air over the surface of the liquid to be sterilized, we may use the pipe 11, the air,

which is previously itself sterilized, beingsupplied by a suitable blowing apparatus, or as hereinbefore mentioned, an inert gas may be employed, and the funnel-shaped vessel filled with the same. b

The current of air has a further useful efiect in that it prevents the liquid from be-.

ing unduly heated by the heat rays given out by the lamp;

In order to prevent heating of the liquid, we may provide the vessel 1 in which the liquid is sterilized with a cooling jacket.-

An arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 2, in which an apparatus similar to Fig- 1 is shown having a jacket 12 to which cooling liquid, water for example, may be supplied by the pipe 13, the liquid flowing away fromthe jacket by the pipe 14.

By means of our improved apparatus, we are enabled to sterilize large quantities of liquid in a short time with an a paratus of comparatively small dimensions, the cost of sterilization being extremely low. Milk, which has been sterilized in this manner may be used for the preparation of steriliZed butter and other'sterilized milk products.

. In place of using a funnel which is sub- "stantlally parabolic in shape as indicated in the drawing any suitable figure of rotation may be employed. Forexample, in Fig. 3

a conical funnel 1 is shown arranged to be liquid.

It is obvious that the apparatus shown in the drawing is only' illustrative and suitable modifications depending upon the nature of the liquid which -.is to be sterilized may be adopted without departing from the scope of the invention.

We claim-as our invention 1. Apparatus for sterilizing liquids by means of ultra-violet rays comprising a rotatable funnel having a corrugated surface along the inner surface of which the liquid is caused to flow in a thin :film and a source of ultra violet rays suitably located with reference to said funnel so that every particle of the liquid is exposed to the action of the rays substantially as described.

2. In apparatus for-sterilizing liquid, the combination of a corrugated moving surface, means foro supplying liquid to said sur face, and "asource of ultra-violet rays to which said surfaceis exposed.

3. In apparatus for sterilizing liquid,'the combination of a moving surface, means for supplying liquid to said surface in the form of a thin film, means. for causing the film to assume different thicknesses at different parts of the surface, and a'source of ultraviolet rays to which said surface is exposed.

4. In apparatus for sterilizing liquid, the combination of a moving surface, means for supplying liquid to said surface in the form of thin film of varying thickness, anda mercury vapor lamp to the radiationsfrom which said film is exposed.

5. In apparatus for sterilizing liquid, the combinatlon of a corrugated hollow body, means for rotating the same, a pipe for supplying liquid to be sterilized t0 the surface of said hollow body, means for collecting the liquid, and a source of ultra-violet rays to which the liquid on the surface of the hollow body is exposed.

6'. In apparatus for sterilizing liquid, the

combination of a}ho1low body shaped to a. figure of revolution, saidhollow body being provided with corrugations in planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, means for supplying liquid to the surface of said hollow'bogly, and a source of ultra-violet rays to which said surface is exposed.

.. 7. In apparatus; for sterilizing liquid, the

combination of a hollow body," means for ro: tating the same, means for supplying liquid to be sterilizedrto the one surface of said hollow body, meansfor applying cooling liquid to the other surface of said hollow body, and a source of ultra-violet rays to whic the first mentioned surface is exposed.

'8. In apparatus for sterilizing liquid, the.

combination of a rotatable funnel having a corrugated surface {with corrugations in ,planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation,

, means for supplying liquid to the said surface in the. form: of a thin film, and a source of ultra-vlolet rays to which said surfaceis exposed.

9. In apparatus for sterilizing liquid, the

combination of a rotatable funnel having a corrugated surface. with corrugations in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation, means for supplying liquid to the said sur face in the form of .a film, and, a mercury vapor lamp to the radiations from which sa1d surface is exposed.

maaeeo cury vapor lamp having a quartz container located in proximity to saicl surface.

l'ntestimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names this 15th day of Feb- 1o ruary 1910.

VICTOR HENRI.

ANDRE HELBRONNER. MAX VON RECKLINGHAUSENQ Witnesses: 3

Jean H. BAKER, H. 0. Com. 

